Everything posted by StringJunky
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Artificial Womb
It would sell by the million; no more stretch marks.
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What are you listening to right now?
Nice acoustic version of Floyds' Breathe.
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What problems does philosophy solve
It is when one introduces metaphysics and mysticism as apparent components of it. I think, to have a sound footing in philosophy, one must know the mechanics of human consciousness and that means being fluent in cognitive neuroscience or biopsychology. By understanding this subject one can get a grip on the limits of perception of the world around us. If we don't know how our brain pieces the world together how can we hope to extrapolate the external reality in a scientific way? Without this prior knowledge of objectively-observed cognitive functioning philosophy will forever remain founded on sand. Dennet is at least, in my opinion, on the right track in his field of studies by including cognitive science as part of them.
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The Quote Function - a tutorial in several parts.
If you made it seem like a direct quote but the content or spirit was distorted beyond the author's intent that would be misleading and can't be good form. Also, I think you need to preface or follow your version of what someone said in such a way that the reader is clearly informed that it is paraphrased. On topic: There seems to be two ways to get the cursor out of the quote box after editing depending on what mood the software is in. Normally I can just click it outside the box and there the cursor will be but sometimes it it gets stuck. If you take it to the end of the quote after editing it then double-tap the enter button it should be outside the box.
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What are you listening to right now?
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Jeff Healey
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What are the explanations for greater than C space-time expansion?
No laws are violated because space is being created between non-gravitationally bound objects ie the objects themselves are not actually experiencing any acceleration due to the expansion.
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What would you change about the new SFN?
There is.
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What are you listening to right now?
Thanks. Yes, children are merciless when they find anything they can take the mickey out of in their fellow peers...I was not immune from it. C'est la vie.
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What are you listening to right now?
Yes, I'm deaf. With my hearing aid in I use probably a fifty-fifty hearing and lip-reading and all lip reading when I don't have it in. I choose to only use one aid but am severely deaf in both ears. It's all I've ever known so it's no big deal after 50 years. My hearing seems to be equally knackered across the spectrum so amplification is good enough for me to enjoy music sometimes...has to be loud though! Gave up on TV 5 years ago because I eventually had to have it unsociably loud! I access information almost exclusively through the written and visual world now like this forum and the internet in general. On-topic, I'm an avid Pink Floyd fan and I recently have come to appreciate a tribute band called Brit Floyd who I think to do a great job. Played this to death so far: "Time"
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What are you listening to right now?
Nothing...I haven't got my hearing-aid in.
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Sudden appearance of small blue dots in my vision
I would go and consult an ophthamologist.
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Sudden appearance of small blue dots in my vision
This article seems informative. http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/spotsfloats.htm If after reading this you still feel concerned take steps to seek expert advice.
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What science books do you recommend?
Stardust - John Gribbin
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lighter than air ship using vacuum instead of gas
About in the same league as trying to make a perpetual motion machine then?
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What would you change about the new SFN?
I'm glad the old system of Rep Power has gone....it created and encouraged a situation that I remember Severian called 'one big circle jerk'. Now people's rep is more inclined to represent merit rather than influence. Wise move CR.
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Useful Maths links
Your link didn't work for me but I googled the title and editor's name and got this...is this the one? (the URL ending is different to the one you provided): http://eom.springer.de/ Looks like a good resource.
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What science books do you recommend?
Stardust by John Gribbin. Great intro to Cosmology. Einstein: A Hundred Years of Relativity by Andrew Robinson. I think this is an honestly presented overview of Einsteins's life and works with critiques by the author (a physicist) on the long term and relative importance of each of his theories. The Revenge Of Gaia by James Lovelock. Putting his apocalyptic forecast for humanity aside this book is a nice intro to the Earth System: it's cycles and feedback mechanisms. It's about Time by David Mermin. An intro to Special Relativity that keeps the maths to a minimum. but some is unavoidable. Not a light-hearted read like the first three...needs effort!
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On tact
Exactly...not every conversation needs to be of an adverserial or combative nature. Sometimes people want to mutually explore ideas without fear of judgement...LET, not MAKE, the person come to their own conclusions from what we OFFER them Let Philosophy and Religion be that place. The. fact is BILLIONS of people ARE religious and it doesn't help the cause of science by being fundamentalist in attitude ourselves....a corrosive and critical attack style only puts them on the defensive ..then they are lost to science. I'm not religious but I have no problem with the way the Mods want it to be run. The full rigor of the Scientific Method can be maintained in the proper science forums without being compromised by the presence of P&R. Quite often, scientific discussions veer naturally into metaphysical or philosophical territory and I think people should have the 'sandbox' of P&R where they can test there ideas and beliefs with each other cordially and see where it leads...without necessarily trying to PROVE anything, but still coming to an agreeable conclusion, or without leaving the person who's sharing and testing a metaphysical or philosophical idea feeling negative about the experience when their idea doesn't work out logically under the spotlight of mutual discussion. With the Science Forums we have the place for evidence-based dialogue and in P&R we now have a place to explore the whys and foundations of personal or societal beliefs without necessarily measuring against a rigid scientific 'yardstick' or methodology if it's not appropriate. If one can't make the necessary attitude adjustment in the P&R forum, don't go there...it shouldn't be seen as a gladiatorial arena like the rest SFN if that's not the the spirit or intention of the OP in a particular thread there....simple. When in Rome do as the Romans do.
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The Official JOKES SECTION :)
Three old dears overheard talking to each other: - " It's windy" - " No it's not, it's Thursday" - " So am I...let's go and have a cup of tea
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The Official "Introduce Yourself" Thread
Hi I'm interested in science, logical thinking and acoustic guitar. hence my name!